Look after your course…

Do
you know how to repair a pitchmark properly?

As a 14 year old, and just as I was
getting the golfing bug, I did two weeks work experience with the greenkeepers
at the World Famous, Ganton Golf Club. Ganton is located just outside my
hometown of Scarborough, with the course famous for being one of only a handful
in the World to have hosted The Ryder Cup, The Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup.

A few years later it would be the
venue where I would start my career as a PGA Professional as I took the
assistants job at the club.

However, it was in that two weeks as a
greenkeeper where I learned lots about maintaining and caring for a golf course
and one particular thing stayed with me and I’ve shared it with 1000’s of
golfers since…. How to repair a pitchmark, correctly!

Did
you know..?

A correctly repaired pitchmark will
recover in 24 hours. However, an unrepaired pitchmark left unattended for two
hours will take up to two months to recover.

Now that the season has started, the increase in numbers playing on the
courses means that inevitably more pitchmarks will be made on the greens.
However, there is no excuse for not repairing them after you have made one.

The increased numbers arise despite just about every golfer I speak to
speak to saying, “Why can’t people repair their pitchmarks?” Everyone you talk
to always claim that they repair 3 or 4 on every green!

As well as looking unsightly, from a golfing
point of view, pitchmarks can affect ball roll and cause a player’s putt to
bobble and deviate offline. Studies have shown that on average, a golfer will
make 8 pitchmarks during a round of golf. If 130 rounds are played per day,
that’s over 1,000 pitchmarks per week; no surprise then that it can be
difficult to hole a putt!

It isn’t just about attempting to repair the pitchmark…
it is about repairing it properly. Many golfers out there do not know how to do
it correctly and damage the grass in the process….

In summary, you should take your pitchmark
tool and insert the prongs into the turf at the edge of the depression. Do NOT insert the prongs into the
depression itself, but at the rim of the depression. Then push the edge of the repairer
toward the centre, using the tool in a gentle twisting motion. Do NOT insert and attempt to push up
the depression as this only leads to tearing the root and killing the grass.

As part of our campaign to spread
awareness of the ‘Pitchmark Problem’ we are giving away pitchmark repairers to
the first 100 people to come along to Dunes Golf Centre to claim theirs. Don’t
be shy, everyone should carry one of these tools when they play. However, if
you do find yourself without one when you are playing, you can still repair a
mark effectively with your tee peg in the same way as stated above.

We are blessed with an abundance of great golf courses in the North East of Scotland so let’s all do our bit to keep them in great condition. Pitchmarks (and divots) are not the responsibility of the greenkeeping staff but of every golfer who plays the game.

Masters Madness

WIN 100% of your money back!

The Masters is just around the corner and to celebrate the season opening Major we have a CRAZY OFFER for you….

The Masters is just around the corner and to celebrate the season opening Major we have a CRAZY OFFER for you….

How it works….
⛳️ 1. Spend over £100 in store between now and 8pm on Wednesday 10th April
2019

⛳️
2. Choose your player from Tiger
Woods or Justin Rose

⛳️
3. If your choice wins the Masters
then you get 100% of your money back via your payment method!

What will you choose….

A new set of custom fitted irons?

A new wardrobe from our brand new range of Under Armour

A new custom fitted driver?

Gloves, balls, umbrella, waterproofs?

We have a huge range of golfing goods
in stock so whatever you are looking for please come and give us a try and
support your local business.

27th April – the 4th annual Scottish Drive
Chip Putt Championship takes place at Dunes. This is a free to enter event for
all boys and girls aged 4 to 15 years old. Go to www.dunesgolfcentre.co.uk/drivechipputt for more information